(Newser)
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Want to help Houston foot the bill for its rape investigations? Visit a strip club. The city doesn't have the funds to quickly analyze evidence collected in rape kits, so the City Council passed an ordinance yesterday imposing a $5-per-visitor "pole tax" on strip joints and other clubs that host adult entertainment (think wet T-shirt contests). The money collected will go toward processing Houston's rape kits; an estimated 6,000 sit untested, the Wall Street Journal reports. With 30 clubs subject to the tax, as much as $3 million could be raised annually.

Supporters of the fee, which passed 14-1, say that strip clubs contribute to sexual assaults by fostering an unhealthy attitude about women that could ultimately lead to sexual assaults; opponents point out the lack of studies proving that. Texas already levies a $5-per-customer "pole tax" on strip clubs, meaning Houston clubs will have double the fee. But, says a City Council member, "When you look at videos of these clubs and see women putting $5, $10, and $20 dollar bills in their remaining clothing, I don't think a $5 tax will hurt anybody."

" Supporters of the fee, which passed 14-1, say that strip clubs contribute to sexual assaults by fostering an unhealthy attitude about women that could ultimately lead to sexual assaults; opponents point out the lack of studies proving that." Odd. Because men's strip clubs have a very firm, no touching policy, that is strongly enforced, while women's strip clubs not only lack that policy, they are often encouraged to grope and grab as if the man is their possession. If anything, it's female strip clubs that would encourage and foster an unhealthy attitude about men that could ultimately lead to sexual assault. I'm not sure how a "look, don't touch" environment would foster a touch all you want outcome. I'm willing to bet, however, that the women's strip clubs are not taxed, and the services provided by this tax only benefits women, despite the CDC's most recent study showing men being forced to penetrate (because the legal definition does not define that as rape, does not make it less an issue) being at parity with the rape of women in the previous 12 month period.

edtastic

Jun 29, 2012 1:50 PM CDT

" Supporters of the fee, which passed 14-1, say that strip clubs contribute to sexual assaults by fostering an unhealthy attitude about women that could ultimately lead to sexual assaults; opponents point out the lack of studies proving that." Supporters are a bunch of sexist bigots who threat male sexuality as a threat to women. Are they going to tax women in revealing clothing next? How about that party girl who gyrates seductively on the dance floor? The misandry in our society is sick, and men need to rise up to fight it. We can blame everyone from feminist to religious fundamentalist for this persistent demonizaiton of male sexuality. They seem to have no problem attacking a entire gender for what a few in that gender might do or have done. We have a word for that, and it's called BIGOTRY. Men need to fight sexism against men, it's a serious issue that's costing us more than the $5 to get in strip clubs. It can cost you custody of your children.